How do you get your employees to actively question processes to make a workplace more efficient?

This is a question that might not come up for some managers — for others, it’s already a part of their playbook. But it’s a good question, because it positions the company toward getting more out of an existing workforce. It also really benefits employees in a few key ways.

Free Up the Business Model

If you’re asking the question of how to get people to question a process, you are inherently ready to throw out the hierarchical model that has driven business for so many centuries. In the industrial times, hierarchy was a major part of production. People at the top dictated to those on the bottom.

In today’s work world, where even physical manufacturing processes are assisted by powerful technologies, hierarchy is much less relevant. So one of the first things you need to do to open up your processes to questions is to free up your business model, and allow employees to work creatively.

Doing this means throwing out huge portions of the rulebook. It means letting employees know that they are empowered to do their jobs in the ways that make the most sense to them. In doing so, you’re opening up the doors for the valuable feedback that’s going to innovate within your company.

Do Outreach

In order to reach the goal of having people actively question processes and contribute their ideas, you’ll need to do the outreach to initiate these types of discussions. Send out surveys to employees, on paper or in a digital format. Ask them to evaluate or rank processes. Get them talking, and get them delivering feedback.

Pilot Projects

Not all suggestions are going to be worthy of a trial process. There should be a team to vet the employee suggestions that come in, and a way to decide which ones to pursue.

With that in mind, many of the valuable pieces of employee advice you’ll get can be implemented on a trial basis. Thinking creatively, there’s often a way to do this well without endangering business as usual. Create a small test case and try something out, whether it’s related to product development, customer relations, advertising or anything else.

Acknowledge Feedback and Show Implementation

If the pilot project is successful, congratulations. You’ve effectively used employee feedback to improve the business. Make sure people know that implementation has been done, and give credit where it is due.

About Full Steam Staffing

Full Steam Staffing is a full-service staffing agency focused on providing clerical and light industrial staffing solutions to manufacturers, distribution centers and other organizations that need qualified, reliable workers. If you are currently looking to hire and grow your workforce, contact our team of skilled recruiters today!